Girl Scouts become marine biologists for a day — More than 40 aquatically adventurous Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 recently participated in You Can Be … a Marine Biologist.

SEACAMP San Diego hosted the one-day career exploration event in Mission Bay. The Girl Scouts began in SEACAMP’s labs, where they learned about 31 species of native fish and invertebrates. They touched live sea stars (star fish) and sharks in the lab aquariums, examined preserved specimens, discovered how to distinguish male from female sharks and found out why lungfish can survive outside of the water.

Donning snorkels, they explored Mission Point, searching for marine creatures in their natural habitats. The girls encountered purple sea urchins, giant limpets and — to their delight — a California sea hare, one of the world’s biggest gastropods. The girls also tried their hand at seining — using a long net to collect shoreline sea creatures for study before releasing them safely back into the bay.

“My favorite part of the day was meeting sea creatures in the water,” said Girl Scout Nadia Zuñiga, a member of Troop 5965. The event was part of Girl Scouts San Diego’s “You Can Be …” series, designed to introduce girls to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions. To learn more about Girl Scouting opportunities, visit www.sdgirlscouts.org.

• PBMS Holiday Toy Drive: Nov. 12 through Dec. 13. Benefits Hope in the City, an organization in City Heights that helps refugee families, and Ronald McDonald House. Students are encouraged to bring new toys to their fifth-period class. The class with the most toys wins an all-expense paid visit to Belmont Park.

Pacific Beach Elementary School

• Students grades K-5 present “Blackbeard the Pirate,” Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 for children and $6 for adults in the office or at the door. For more information, contact Zoe Sidell at zoesidell@gmail.com

• Kindness Assembly and shoe drive: Saturday, Dec. 23. Students will attempt to gather 2,000 pairs of gently worn shoes to send to orphanages in Kenya.

• Book Fair: Nov. 18-22. Funds raised will help purchase books for classroom libraries and students. Families, faculty and the community are invited to attend the event, which features a special “Lunch with a Loved One” event with students inviting their parents and loved ones to join them for lunch in the CPJMA lunch arbor on Friday, Nov. 22.

• On Nov. 15, Native American storyteller Gary Stokes (www.garystokes.org) visited CPJMA. Native American music and storytelling introduced students to Native American history and how it influences culture today.

• Ibarra Elementary School thanks Kate Sessions, which recycled its children’s books by giving them to Ibarra, whose school library remains closed due to budget cuts.

• Sessions PTO thanks the 100 artists and crafters that supported the Kate Sessions PTO Craft Fair, “Handmade in San Diego.” Also a big “thank you” to the excellent entertainment provided by Tap Fever, USSD, Barnard Elementary School, Lauren and Dana, Maddi and Colin, and Heartlight.

• The Sessions November Dine Out was a great success thanks to families and friends and our sponsors zza, World Curry and Rocket Fizz.

Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools (FOPBSS)

Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools’ cash fundraising goal for the 2013/14 school year is $11,200, and is currently 63 percent of the way there. FOPBSS provides funds to enhance athletics, arts, music, campus beautification, special events and more. Already this year, FOPBSS has funded books for classrooms and libraries, art supplies, and science and athletic equipment. Big items still on the wish list include an ice machine for the MBHS Athletic Department, increased selections in the PBMS library and a golf cart for the PBMS custodial staff. If you or your business is interested in supporting the efforts of our local schools, visit www.fopbss.org or contact Elkie Wills at ewills2008@hotmail.com.

• The Pacific Beach Neighborhood Schools Fair was a great success showcasing all of PB’s public schools. From music, Mandarin and International Baccalureate programs to robotics and science projects, neighbors experienced the wide variety of academic programs offered in Pacific Beach public schools.

• Pancake breakfast with Santa hosted by the new lacrosse team at MBHS. For $6, get all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage with Santa. Have holiday photos taken by the MBHS girls’ softball team and visit the free gift-wrap booth.

Education NotebookGirl Scouts become marine biologists for a day — More than 40 aquatically adventurous Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 recently participated in You Can Be … a Marine Biologist. SEACAMP San Diego hosted t...